Tourists look ready to bury past Ashes misery

A superior bowling attack and new-found Australian weaknesses can see England thrive and make history this time around

Steven Finn should be able to exploit the extra bounce of the Australian pitches (Nigel French)
The England players who arrived in Australia yesterday have a better chance of
returning home with the Ashes than any of their predecessors for a
generation. Four years ago, they set out as holders of the Urn but without
their first-choice captain, Michael Vaughan, or one of their most effective
bowlers in Simon Jones; within days they had lost Marcus Trescothick. This
time they have everybody they want, bar perhaps Graham Onions.

If they fail, they will kick themselves. They have enjoyed one of their best
build-ups to an Ashes series, while Australia have endured one of their
worst. England have won their past three series (and their past 10 events in
all formats); Australia have lost three Tests in a row, their worst sequence
since the 1980s.

England will be entering the back yard of an Australian side not just missing
an aura but lacking even the after-glow of